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N. A. BUTT ET AL CAN OPENER Filed Oct. 29, 1946 Sept. 19, 1950 i portionI4 at one end thereof.

Patented Sept. 19, 1950 CAN OPENER Noah A. Butt and William Clyde ByrdAtlanta, Ga.

Application October 29, 1946, Serial No. 706,410

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel device for opening metallic containersand is essentially applicable to liquid containers.

An object of this device is to provide means for cutting an aperture inthe top of a container and preventing any metal from falling into thecontainer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device whereby a plugmay be taken out of a container and held in the device by which it isremoved and may be expeditiously removed therefrom, all in accordancewith the volition of the operator.

A further object of this device is the provision of a novel, efficientand inexpensive means for satisfactorily opening liquid containingreceptacles, without leaving rough edges aboutthe opening.

Other objects and features of novelty of this invention will bespecifically pointed out `or will become apparent when referring, forbetter understanding of the invention, through the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of this invention showing the receptacleopener, the receptacle and a plug especially adapted to close the smoothaperture made by the use of this invention; and,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the invention showing theconstruction thereof, parts being shown in elevation.

Referring now to a more detailed description of the drawings whereinlike reference characters indicate similar parts in the views of the invention, I0 indicates in a general way a preferred embodiment of thisinventive concept.

Taking now Figure 2 a handle I2 made of any suitable material such aswood, light metal, plastic or the like is provided with a knurled gripExtending longitudinally in the handle I2 is a bore I5 which receives ametallic sleeve I8.- The sleeve I8 is provided with two co-axial borestherein of different diameters, the larger indicated at 20 communicatingwith the smaller indicated at 22. Slidably secured in the larger andsmaller bores of sleeve I8 is a piston or plunger 24 having a largerdiameter 26 and a smaller diameter 28 adapted to be received in thelarger bore 20 and the smaller bore 22 respectively. Extending from andforming acontinuation of sleeve I 8 is a pair of blades 3D and 32preferably of laterally arcuate shape as shown. The said blades arebevel ground on the outside edges so that in piercing a container theedges of the aperture resulting 2` from piercing the said container willbe conveniently turned downward in order to obviate the undesirablerough edges usually encountered in such cuts.

The operation of this invention is as follows. A container, preferably aliquid container, generally indicated at 34, is pierced by the knifeedges 30 and 32 which may be beveled on either the front, the back orboth edges thereof. It is here noted that the conjunction of the saidknife blades with the said sleeve is formed an abutting shoulder 36adapted for engagement with the top portion of the container to be cutor opened for limiting the penetration of the device into the saidcontainer 34. After the invention has pierced the container to be openedit is turned approximately one-quarter of a revolution cutting a smalldisk 38 out of the top of the container. This disk is retained in theblades by frictional engagement thereof and is removed by shaking theinvention causing the piston or plunger 24 to reciprocate in the sleeveI8 thus knocking out the undesired Aportion of the container.

It is here noted that since a uniform cut is taken in all containers astopper 4I) is provided for use with the invention since Stoppers may bemanufactured of a certain size to suit the size aperture made by theparticular embodiment of the present invention which is used.

While there is described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of theinstant invention, it Will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious changes including omissionsand additions may be made hereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as setforth in the accompanying claims.

While the grip portion is shown round and tapered to suit the hand, itis noted that the said grip portion might be of any other convenientconfiguration. It is also noted that instead of a knurled grip portionas shown at I4, this invention contemplates the use of a corrugated gripor grooved grip or, if desired, the entire handle might be figured withanti-slip means.

It is noted here that a tapered slot is provided between the blades 30and 32, the function of which is apparent. When the `blades havepenetrated their full depth, a small portion of the can is left uncut,the cut being completed by turning the device about a quarter of a turnas hereinbefore mentioned. The shape of the slot in cooperation with theknife blades retains the cut out disk by the rough edges that are lefton the disk after sleeve, and a plunger inertia member freely floatingand conned within said sleeve, whereby a cut-out portion of a containermay be removed from the opener after extracting the same from the saidcontainer.

2. A device for opening containers comprising a handle having an axialbore therein, a sleeve in the said bore and. extending therefrom, saidsleeve having a larger and smaller bore therein,`

a plunger having a larger and smaller diameter portion freely slidablyin the said bores of the said sleeve, a plurality of blades extendingfrom and forming a, continuation of said sleeve being inclined towardseach other, said b1ades being adapted to pierce, out and retain aportion of a container and said plunger protruding between said bladesto knock out the portion of container retained in said knife blades.

3. A device for forming an opening in a container, retaining theresultant plug and discarding the retained plug, said device comprisinga sleeve having a bore, a counterbore in said sleeve, an inertia memberhaving an enlargement disposed in said counterbore, said member beingiioatingly received in said bore and counterbore, cutting blades forminga continuation of said sleeve and being inclined toward each other inorder to cut a plug from the container and retain the plug, and saidfloating inertia member being slidably received between a portion ofsaid cutting blades in order to forcibly eject the plug therefrom uponreciprocation 0f the sleeve.

4. A device for forming an opening ina container, retaining theresultant plug and discarding the retained plug, said device comprisinga 4 sleeve having a bore, a counterbore in said sleeve, an inertiamember having an enlargement dis- .posed in said counterbore, saidmember being floatingly disposed in said bore and counterbore, cuttingblades forming a continuation of said sleeve and being inclined towardeach other in order to cut a plug from the container and retain theplug, said oating inertia member being slidably received between aportion of said cutting lades in order to forcibly eject the plugtherefrom upon reciprocation of the sleeve, and a shoulder formed at thejunction of said cutting blades and said `sleeve for limiting the travelof the sleeve within the container upon removal of a portion of thecontainer.

5. A device for forming an opening in a container, retaining theresultant plug and discarding the retained plug, said device comprisingva sleeve having a bore, a counterbore in said sleeve, an inertia memberhaving an enlargement disposed in said counterbore, said member beingoatingly received in said bore and counterbore, cutting blades forming acontinuation of said sleeve and being inclined toward each other inorder to cut a plug from the container and retain the plug, saidfloating inertia member being slidably received between a portion ofsaid cutting blades in order to forcibly ejectk the plug therefrom uponreciprocation of the sleeve, a shoulder formed at the junction of saidcutting blades and said sleeve for limiting the travel of the sleeveWithin the container upon removal of a portion of the container, and,said cutting Iblades `being resiliently biased toward each other.

NOAH A. BUTT. WILLIAM CLYDE BYRD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 99,046 Alexander Jan. 25, 18701,589,127 Deveault June 15, 1926

